La Romana

Dominican Republic

La Romana Travel Information

The Basics

Time

Electricity

Electrical current is between 110 and 120 volts, 60Hz. American-style two-pin flat blade plugs are standard.

Language

Spanish is the official language, but English is spoken in the main tourist centres.

Travel Health

No vaccination certificates are required but precautions are
recommended against Hepatitis A, typhoid, rabies and polio for
those who plan to spend time outside the main tourist resort areas.
There is a malaria risk throughout the year. Between May and
September there is a risk of dengue fever, which is contracted from
mosquitoes that bite during the day. It is advisable to use
mosquito repellent. Travellers should be aware of the high
prevalence of the HIV/AIDS virus in the Dominican Republic and take
the relevant precautions. Water should be regarded as being
potentially contaminated in undeveloped areas; bottled water is
available. Some species of fish, including tropical reef fish, may
be poisonous to eat even when well cooked. There are good hospitals
and other private medical facilities located in Puerto Plata,
Santiago and Santo Domingo, but outside of these cities facilities
are limited, and staff are unlikely to understand English. Most
resorts have doctors that can treat minor medical complaints.
Health insurance, including provision for medical evacuation, is
recommended.

Tipping

Hotels and restaurants generally include a 10 percent service
charge as well as tax, but additional tips should be given for good
service as often the charge does not go to the staff who provided
the service. Waiters usually receive 10 percent extra for good
service. For other services including taxi drivers, tipping is
discretionary depending on the service provided.

Safety Information

Due to the recent unrest in neighbouring Haiti and the ongoing
unpredictability of the security situation, it is inadvisable to
travel across the border to Haiti. There is a low terrorism risk
and incidences of violent crime are infrequent. Visitors should
take normal precautions against petty crime, however. The Dominican
Republic is vulnerable to hurricanes from June to November.

Local Customs

Being polite to others and having respect for elders is integral
and is expected from visitors. If taking a photograph of a local,
one should ask permission first and then offer a gift afterwards.
Dominicans take care in their appearance and form judgements based
on what people wear; they are likely to look down on tourists that
are unkempt or wear clothes that are too revealing.

Business

Santo Domingo is the centre of business in the Dominican
Republic. Good working relationships are vital and trust is an
integral part of doing business in the Dominican Republic; knowing
the right people is half the battle won. Appearances are considered
important and therefore dressing smartly is advised. Meetings are
initially rather formal and a polite greeting accompanied by a
handshake is common; expect small talk. Business cards are usually
exchanged on introduction. Punctuality is important. Although
English is widely spoken and understood, it is still useful to have
all business material printed in English and Spanish. It is
important to be polite and courteous at all times. Business hours
are usually 8am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm Monday to Friday.

Communications

The international access code for the Dominican Republic is +1,
as with the US, Canada and most of the Caribbean, followed by 809
or 829. The outgoing code is 011 followed by the relevant country
code (e.g. 01144 for the UK) but this is not required for calling
North America. Local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and
have roaming agreements with most major international operators.
Direct international calls can be made from numerous
telecommunications centres located in all towns and cities.
Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.

Duty Free

Travellers to the Dominican Republic over 16 years do not have
to pay duty on 200 cigarettes or 1 box cigars; 1 bottle of alcohol,
unopened and maximum of 2 litres; and up to 2 bottles of perfume
for personal use. All animal products are prohibited.

Become our La Romana Travel Expert

We are looking for contributors for our La Romana travel guide.
If you are a local, a regular traveller to La Romana
or a travel professional with time to contribute and answer occasional forum questions, please contact us.